Life - Articles - No deal Brexit would hit life insurers capital and profits

According to a report from Moody’s Investors Service weak economic growth and business and consumer uncertainty would weigh on life insurers’ business in the short to medium term UK life insurers are likely to see their capital and profit damaged if there is a no-deal Brexit.

However, Moody’s current base case is still that the European Union and the UK will reach an agreement.

“If the UK leaves the European Union without an agreement, life insurers will suffer in the short to medium term,” said Dominic Simpson, VP-Sr Credit Officer at Moody’s. “First, financial market volatility may erode capital and pressure investment income. Second, a hit to the UK economy may reduce revenue and earnings potential.”

However, Moody’s anticipates that operational risk will be manageable in the event of a no-deal Brexit, as most UK life groups that operate in continental Europe do so via local subsidiaries.

These will be able to continue operating even though their UK parents would lose their EU passporting rights. Furthermore, in 2018, most UK life insurers again increased their operating profit. Moody’s expects the sector to continue to benefit from rule changes giving savers more freedom to manage their retirement savings, as well as structural shifts such as pensions auto-enrolment, and the move from defined benefits to defined contribution schemes.